Don’t expect any new tricks from Bill Schmidt’s office at Rockies headquarters when his scouting department moves front and center for the annual amateur draft Tuesday through Thursday.
Schmidt’s drafting philosophy will be the same as seven previous drafts as the Rockies’ director of scouting.
“We’re going to continue to add quality players who we believe will have an impact when they get to the major leagues,” Schmidt said. “You never can have too many players of that kind at any position they might play.”
Schmidt and the Rockies’ baseball hierarchy have been burning the midnight oil as they compile their list of players they would like to select. The Rockies have a chance to draft quality players early with four picks in the first two rounds (11th, 32nd, 34th and 59th overall).
It’s difficult to single out players of interest because, as Schmidt pointed out, “It’s difficult to say what will go on with teams that draft ahead of us.”
In general, Schmidt broke down the 2009 prospects.
“There may not be as many college bats as last year in the top group, but there are some pitching arms at both the college and high school levels,” Schmidt said. “Our scouts still are out there working and providing information.”
Rockies fans probably won’t be aware of the players selected in the three-day draft for another four or five years. Most of the newcomers to the organization will begin the climb to Denver with Casper of the Pioneer Rookie League or with the Northwest League’s Tri-City Dust Devils, who play home games in Pasco, Wash. From there, the road to Coors Field goes from Asheville in the lower level Single-A South Atlantic League to Modesto in the high level Single-A California League, to Double-A Tulsa and to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Rockies fans are familiar with some of Schmidt’s work. The first-round selection in his first draft with the Rockies, in 2002, was left-hander Jeff Francis. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2005) and third baseman Ian Stewart (2003) are two other Schmidt first-round draft picks who are in a Rockies uniform. Veteran first baseman Todd Helton was a Rockies first-round draft pick from the team’s previous administration.
Left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich, an Eastern Kentucky product and Schmidt’s first-round pick a year ago, has been one of the bright spots so far in the organization. Friedrich began the season in Asheville and already has been promoted to Modesto. His 2.31 ERA and 80 strikeouts are tops among pitchers in the organization. He’s 3-3 and could be on his way to Tulsa before the season is over.
Otherwise, it has been a rough year so far for some of the former first-round picks.
As Rockies fans know, Francis most likely will miss the season after shoulder surgery. He won 17 games in the Rockies’ run to the World Series two years ago.
Right-hander Casey Weathers, the Rockies’ first- round pick in the 2007 draft, also is out for the year after elbow surgery. Right-hander Greg Reynolds, the top pick in 2006, pitched the season opener for Colorado Springs and hasn’t pitched since. Reynolds is seeing doctors in hopes of finding the cause of pain between his shoulder blades.
Infielder Chris Nelson, the top choice in 2004, was off to a good start at Tulsa but is sidelined indefinitely because of an injured wrist suffered when sliding into a base headfirst. He was hitting .280 when he went down.
“You can’t foresee injuries,” Schmidt said. “They’re part of the game.”
That leaves Tulowitzki and Stewart, who are playing. But Tulo missed playing time last week because of a hand injury.
Minor-league spotlight on …
Esmil Rogers, RHP, Tulsa
The Tulsa Drillers’ Esmil Rogers is leading what could be called a successful game of keep-away with opposing hitters.
With the 23-year-old Rogers pitching eight scoreless innings Thursday in a 4-0 victory over the Frisco Roughriders, the Drillers’ staff was on its way to a scoreless-inning stretch that eventually reached 22 2/3 innings. It was Rogers’ fourth straight victory after he opened the season with a loss. In 10 starts for the Drillers, Rogers has posted a 2.56 ERA, allowed 14 walks and struck out 55. His 59 2/3 innings of work is tied for second in the Rockies’ organization. In his last two starts, Rogers has allowed two earned runs in 14 2/3 innings of work.
Marc Gustafson, Rockies’ director of player development, lists Rogers as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization, even though he entered six years ago as a shortstop. He was signed as a nondrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2003.
“Rogers has premium stuff,” Gustafson said. “He reaches the mid-90s with his fastball, has an above- average curveball and a changeup that you will see a lot of nights in a big-league park. He’s a good athlete with a good arm, and he does a lot of things very well. He has only pitched for three seasons, so the wear on his arm doesn’t match up to his age.”
Organizational leaders
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (40 games) Mike McCoy, Colorado Springs, .370; Matt Repec, Modesto, .367.
RUNS: McCoy, Colorado Springs, 50; Eric Young, Colorado Springs, 49.
HITS: Matt Miller, Colorado Springs,71; Scott Robinson, Asheville, 66.
DOUBLES: Radames Nazario, Modesto, 19; Miller, Colorado Springs, 18.
TRIPLES: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, 7; Jeffrey Cunningham, Modesto, 6.
HOME RUNS: Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, 10; Ryan Harvey, Tulsa, 8; David Christensen, Asheville, 8.
RBIs: Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, 59; Miller, Colorado Springs, 49.
STOLEN BASES: Young, Colorado Springs, 33; McCoy, Colorado Springs, 18; Scott Robinson, Asheville, 18.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Joey Williamson, Modesto, 7; Samuel Deduno, Tulsa, 6.
LOSSES: Bruce Billings, Modesto, 5; Robinson Fabian, Asheville, 5; Parker Frazier, Asheville, 5.
SAVES: Craig Baker, Modesto, 17; Andrew Johnston, Tulsa, 15.
INNINGS: Jason Hirsh, Colorado Springs, 62; Brandon Hynick, Colorado Springs, 59 2/3; Esmil Rogers, Tulsa, 59 2/3.
WALKS: Deduno, Tulsa, 27; Connor Graham, Modesto, 26.
STRIKEOUTS: Christian Friedrich, Asheville/Modesto, 80; Billings, Modesto, 67.
ERA: (starters) Friedrich, Asheville/ Modesto, 2.31; Rogers, Tulsa, 2.56; (relievers) Matthew Reynolds, Modesto, 1.35; Edgmer Escalona, Modesto, 2.52.
